The world would be a very dull place if we were all alike. The diversity of people all round the world is what makes life so fascinating and fulfilling.

It also makes the workplace better. Personality diversity in the workplace can be the best driver of success. Understanding and managing different personalities includes the recruiting, hiring, training and placement of different people.

All of us are products of our upbringing. Our experiences are what have conditioned us with our attitudes, preferences and behavior. Unfortunately many people don’t appreciate the differences in other people. Just think about how disastrous it would be if we all:

Looked alike.

Wanted to do the same kind of job.

Had the same opinions.

Were passionate about the same things.

Likes the same kind of foods.

Spoke the same language.

Believed the same.

Had the same interests.

Had the same temperaments.

Liked the same TV shows and movies.

Had the same taste in food, clothes, cars and houses.

Becky Vaughn-Furlow(Photo: Special to The Clarion-Ledger)

Being comfortable with ourselves is the beginning of accepting others who are different. The world is getting “smaller” with more accessible travel, television and the internet. which opens up contacts and communication with other people with different ethnicities, backgrounds, languages, cultures and beliefs. When we have a comfort level with ourselves and accept ourselves for who we are, we will become more open to other people.

Unfortunately, some people put up barriers instead of opening themselves up to others. This can lead to prejudices and biases against others of differing colors, races, genders and ages. It can also result in mistrust of others and sometimes even fear of other people. The positive response is to become more open and tolerant of others. We can learn much through contact with others, respecting their viewpoints, even if we don’t agree with them. Listening to others allows us to hear them and better understand their culture and beliefs.

In the workplace, you’ll find different personality types of employees. Among them are those:

Ambitious and amiable, who are eager to learn. They are well balanced and work well under pressure. They may lack attention to detail and are more “big picture” types.

Highly functional introverts. They are usually the company’s pillars. They are often quiet but always pleasant. They focus on tasks and get the job done. They are often hesitant to express their opinions, which could result in their being unhappy on the job.

Anxious warriors. They are constantly complaining and often struggle to meet deadlines. They may work longer hours to get the job done. They have a tendency to have procrastination issues.

People with intense temperaments. They are difficult to manage and can be filled with anger and become easily irritated by minor incidents. They are influenced by the work environment, other employees and poor management.

To better understand the different personality types, there are proven theories and models you can use. The most used and popular one is Myers and Briggs personality typing. Many businesses use Meyers-Briggs to determine employee preferences. It sorts people according to these eight characteristics:

Extrovert (E) or Introvert (I)

Sensing (S) or Intuitive (N)

Feeling (F) or Thinking (T)

Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

The combinations of these classifications can assist in determining if a person is better suited to be a kindergarten teacher or a registered nurse, a police office or a bartender, a systems administrator or a jeweler, a physician or a minister, a veterinarian or landscape architect, an artist or a reporter.

Another method of personality testing is the John Holland hexagon of personality types. His theory categorizes people into six personality types, — realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional. Both models can help to better understand the varying personalities of your workforce, help to ensure they are in the right job and increase employee productivity.

Personality diversity can also at times cause conflicts. Ninety percent of conflicts at work are the result of each person being wired to the core differently, which results in thinking and speaking differently, communicating differently and working differently. Working on teams and cross functionally will show the varying strengths and weaknesses of employees. Minimizing conflicts and working together to reach goals will help all parties involved to develop their people skills.

Assessing your own personality type is important regardless of your job. It is especially necessary for leaders to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and identify any blind spots. Strengths can make you shine but weaknesses can cause issues with your staff and hold you back. Leveraging your personality type and identifying the various personality types of employees In the business will make the company and the individuals on staff more successful. Working together and understanding differences and the positive impact made will set you apart from the competition. These differences can be your greatest assets. Support and celebrate them.